Combination bunk, table, and seats for jails and the like



Oct. 23, 1951 J w n' 2,572,435

COMBINATION BUNK, TABLE, AND SEATS FOR JAILS AND THE LIKE Filed April 16, 1947 INVENTOR. Loyd J. Whi 1e WWW Patented Oct. 23, 1 951 COMBINATION BUNK, TABLE, AND SEATS FOR JAILS AND THE LIKE Loyd J. White, San Antonio, Tex., assignor to Southern Prison Company, San Antonio, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application April 16, 1947, Serial No. 741,746

5 Claims.

This invention relates to foldable furniture especially designed for use in limited areas such as automobile trailers, ships cabins, prison cells, and in wards, dormitories, and houses where it is desirable to conserve space. More particularly, it relates to the combination of a bunk, table and seats adapted to be hingedly supported on a wall. The combination in one position is a table with two seats and in the other position it is a bunk and the table and seats are suspended underneath the bunk in such manner that the wings of the seats act as bracing means to hold the bunk in its horizontal position as well as reinforcements for the bunk itself.

Another aim of the invention is to provide the combination of a bunk, table and seats arranged and designed so that when the bunk is folded up, the table and seats occupy only a portion of the same space occupied by the bunk. Likewise, when the bunk is let down for use as a bed the table and seats are suspended entirely out of the way underneath the bunk.

Another aim of the invention is to provide the combination of a bunk, table and seats secured together in a substantial manner and which may be entirely supported above the floor to permit clear access to the floor to facilitate cleaning.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a compact article of furniture providing table and seats in limited areas which otherwise would not have sufficient room to accommodate them.

Other aims and advantages will appear in the specification, when considered in connection with the illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevation showing the preferred form of bunk swung or folded upwardly against a wall;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, the wall being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the bunk in its lowered position.

Heretofore, it has been customary to limit the furniture in small compartments to a single bunk or bed because the space is too small to accommodate more. The present invention, therefore, provides a compact bunk, table and seat unit adapted to be pre-fabricated at the factory and installed at the point of use without requiring extensive alterations.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the preferred embodiment of the invention includes a substantially rectangular bunk bottom 10 preferably made of thin sheet metal, laminated wood or other suitable material, carrying an ordinary single mattress or pad II. It is shown as having reinforcing angles l2 at its opposite ends carrying trunnion pins l3 hingedly mounted in suitable angle brackets I4, which are shown as being anchored to a wall l5 by means of ordinary bolts; although it will be understood that the angle brackets may be welded or riveted to metal walls.

In the present example, the bottom of the bunk is shown as having seats l6 preferably made of thin sheet metal, laminated wood or other suitable material, mounted at each end of the bunk adjacent to the hinged edges. They are secured to the bottom of the bunk and are shown as having wings or flanges I! forming back or side portions for the two seats and acting as braces or supports for the bunk when in its lowered position for use as a bed. These wings provide back rests for occupants of the seats facing the table. These seats may be further reinforced by means of angles l8, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The arrangement is such that when the bunk is folded up against the wall, the seats are horizontal and are in proper position for use, as such.

The bottom of the bunk also carries a table or shelf l9 preferably made of sheet metal, laminated wood or other suitable material, intermediate its sides and ends and at a level well above the seats when the bunk is in folded position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The table is secured to the bottom side of the bunk and is supported at its outer edge by a suitable brace 20. In the present example, a pair of transverse, parallel angles 2| are shown as being secured to the bottom of the bunk behind the inner edge of the table and a plurality of parallel slats 22 are secured to them above the level of the table to provide a book and magazine rack. The arrangement is such that when books and magazines are inserted in the rack they will lie hori zontally and be confined therein when the bunk is folded down. The angles, seats and table all reinforce the bunk so that it can be made. of relatively light material without danger of saggmg.

The bunk is adapted to be latched in its foldedup position by any convenient means. In this example, a pair of T-shaped brackets 23 are shown as being anchored in the wall and they carry loosely mounted hooks 24 which are arranged to engage pins 25 projecting from the opposite end edges of the bunk, as best shown in 3 Figs. 1 and 2. The arrangement is such that the bunk can easily be folded up and secured in its raised position, with the seats and the table exposed for use. In this position, the floor of the compartment is readily accessible for cleaning.

When the bunk is lowered, the wings I! of the seats 16 act as a support or brace to hold the bunk in its horizontal position. In this example, a bumper plate or pad 26 is shown as being anchored in the wall to act as a bumper for the seat wings and prevent scarring or marring. of

the wall.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the compact article of furniture is easy to manufacture and install.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. An article of furniture of the character described, comprising in combination, a substantially rectangular, sheet metal plate to support bedding on one side; hinge elements at one side edge portion of said plate adapted to be secured to a wall so that the plate can be folded upwardly against the wall; a pair of sheet metal meats secured to said plate and projecting at its opposite end portions adjacent tothe hinged edge thereof; and back members for the seats secured tothe plate and adapted to act as stops for the plate when it is swung downwardly to a horizontal position, said seats and back members also serving to reinforce said plate.

2. An article of furniture of the character described, comprising a substantially rectangular plate adapted to be hingedly secured at one side edge to a wall and having one side adapted to support a mattress thereon; a table top of sheet material secured to the plate and projecting substantially perpendicularly thereto from the opposite side of the plate intermediateits ends and-sides; means on the plate adapted to coact with latch means on the wall to hold the plate with the table top supported horizontally; and seat. panels securedto said plate and projecting from said opposite side thereof at its opposite ends and said one side edge; and wings extending from saidseats adapted to act as braces to engage the wall when the plate is lowered.

3. A foldable bunk, as set forth in claim 2, wherein a pair of parallel reinforcing structural elements are secured to said rest plate adjacent to the table top and at least one cross member secured to said elements and coacting therewith to form a book rack.

4. As an article of furniture for prison cells and the like, a substantially rectangular, bed supporting plate having hinge members adjacent to one longitudinal edge adapted to be hingedly connected to a wall; pins adjacent to the v opposite longitudinal edge of said plate adapted to coact with cooperating latch members on the wall to hold the plate in folded position against the wall; a table panel secured to the bottom side of the bed supporting plate ,at right angles thereto and longitudinally thereof substantially midway between its side edges and terminating short of its ends; seat forming plates rigidly secured to the longitudinal edge of the bed plate carrying the hinge members and on the side carrying the table panel; and substantially triangular wings extending from the seats and secured to the ends of the bed supporting plate adapted to act as braces to support the plate in its horizontal position when it is hinged to awall.

5. As an article of furniture for jails and the like, a substantially rectangular, bed supporting, sheet metal plate having hinge elements at one side edge adapted to be secured to a wall; and a substantially rectangular, sheet metal, table panel rigidly secured to the bottom of said bed supporting plate at right angles to its plane and extending longitudinally thereof between its sides and ends to reinforce the plate and adapted to extend horizontally therefrom when the plate is folded upwardly against the wall.

LOYD J. WHITE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 481,385 Barger Aug. 23, 1892 1,299,331 Gydesen Apr. 1, 1919 1,642,633 Vittengl. et a1. Sept. 13,. '1927 

